Reply to Is it hard to be friends with people who make significantly more or less?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, I totally understand your question.  
Absolutely you can be friends.  The challenge comes when she wants to do things and go places that are way outside your budget.  Like meeting for lunch at a pricey restaurant or going on a weekend trip to a place you cannot afford. 
As long as you don’t try to “keep up with her” and her lifestyle, you can certainly be friends.  There may come a point where you need to be honest with her and let her know that some things are just outside your budget.  [/quote]

Exactly, and if she is a considerate friend she will anticipate these situations and avoid them.[/quote]

It CAN BE hard to be friends at very different income levels, but it need not be -- it honestly depends on the wealthier friend. I wouldn't worry about or even give second thought to you living in a close in townhouse vs. a single family home. Lots of people in this area live in townhomes or condos to be close, rather than in SFHs further out; some people don't live in the close in SFHs bc they are too costly, while I have other friends who say -- no thanks to a 1940s SFH close in when they can afford a cheaper townhome in the same area built in the 2000s.

You'll figure out over time if the friendship works or not. If she's not all about money and is suggesting "regular" activities -- coffee; drinks; taking the kids to the park or out for pizza or McDs, then it'll work. If she's suggesting shopping trips to high end stores or meals at high end restaurants or making comments bc you're not spending thousands on your daughter's art classes or whatever, then yeah -- the friendship won't work. I would advise you NOT to talk about money BUT if she is suggesting things that are out of your range or you are significantly stretching the budget, then I would say that upfront the first or second time. If she is  good friend, she'll get it and start suggesting regular activities. If she decides your "means" are cramping her style, she'll move on.[/quote]

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